Universal joint.



Patented May 20, I902.

. .A. A. PIXLEY, UNIVERSAL JOINT.

(Application filed July 29, 1901.)

(No Model.)

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" To all whom it mat tan e j-ALBERT A; PIXLEY, or MlTTINEAGUE, MAs sACHUSE'r s. l

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srnczrqrcArlon f ormingpartof'Letters PatentNo.700,369, aatea lvr yeo,1eo a V Aipplioationtledhly29,1901. Serialllo.70.01l -1No m6del.)

citizen of the United-States, residing at Mittineague, in the county o-fiHarnpden and State; of Massachusetts, have v invented a new anduseful Universal-Joint, of which thefollow ing is a specification.

My invention relates .j to improvements in universal joints: or universal-joint couplings in which a split socket is fitted to the 'end of one shaft to receive the spherical head or .ball on the end of another shaft, the parts being constructed, assembled, and operated in the man nerhereinafter fully described and especially pointed out in the claims.

' The objects of my improvements are to provide a durable, simple, inexpensive, and

easily-assembled joint which permits one.

shaft to be revolved by another shaft while standing at an obtuse angle thereto. I am aware that it is not new, broadly speaking,

' to drive two shafts one fromjthe-other which deviate from a right-line; but the particular joint used for this purpose and forming the subject of this invention is novel and possesses points of superiority over others in this class. I attain these objects by the .mechanism illustrated in the accompanying draw- 12 of the split socket 12;

ings, in which Figure 1 is a side view of my invention,

showing one shaftflexed relative to the other; Fig. 2, an inside View of one-half of the split socket; Fig. 3, a side view, in partial seci tion,'of the chambered shaft; Fig. 4', a side. view of the ball-provided shaft, showing the, two driving-pins projecting from the ball; and Fig. 5, an outer cndview of the socket.

Similar figures refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Adjacent end sections of two shafts 10 and 11 or their equivalents are shown in the drawings, the first being the driving-shaft and the secondthe driven shaft, although this order may be reversed. appears the chamber 10 to receive the shank The pin 13 passes through the walls of the chamber 10 and the hole 13 in the shank 12 to hold the shank 1 12 securely and rigidly in contiguity with the shaft 10. More than one pin may be employed for this purpose orsome other suitable retaining means.

In one end of the shaft 10 the ball 11?, fromopposite sides of which proshaft 11 around the ball thereon. a

One end of the shaft 'll-is equippedwith Be it known thatII, 'ALBERT'A. PIXLEY;

ject the'driving-pins 14 14. The ball 11 may be substantially spherical, "as shown, or more :or less fiatte'ned,'if desired. A; neck 11 is z preferabjly interposed between the ball '11 v H and the end of the shaft 11, althon'gh'rthis feature is not an imperative requisite, asfthe increased amount of movement afforded by the pressure of said neck may besecu red in its absence by hollowing out the? end of the r The socket 12, which is split through its 6 5- longitudinal center, and therefore comprises two separate and distinct pieces, has the internal chamber 12 to receive the ball 11 and the slots 14c 14? in opposite sides for the pins l v 14. When the two halves comprising the socket 12 are in position, the chamber 12" is somewhat larger than one-half of the ballll. Hence said ball cannot escape when inclosed or engaged by the socket. The before-mew tioned shank '12 projects from the baseof the socket 12... Each slot 1 1 extends from the base.

located intermediate of said edges, or mere place of said slots which ex'tendclear through said walls.

Assuming that the several members are the socket-rim to within a short distance of V The slots 1 1 are formed in, adjacent edges of the socket-pieces, but may be.

disconnected, the assembling and operating j thereof are as follows: Place the separable parts of the socket 12 about the ball 11, with the pins l t in the slots 14, insert the shank 12% in the shaft-chamber 10, and fasten with the pin 13. Now the shaft 11 may be journaled at any angle relative tothe shaft 10+ that is, within the range of independent movement of the ball 11and is capable of being rotated by said shaft 10. vThe independent movement of the ball 11 islimited by that part of the neck ll which comes :-in contact with the edge of the socket12, as shown in Fig. 1. The shaft ll is revolvedfrom the shaft 10 or, vice versa, by the driving-pins 1 1 and the sides of theslots 14 While'the slots 14. freely permit an independent rolling movement of the ball, theirsides or edges so confine and engage the pins 14 as to pro-' shaft 10 is revolved, as above stated.

duce the rotation of the shaft 11 when the One pin and slot might be employed instead of two; but it is not believed that the best re sults can be obtained in this manner.

The construction of this joint provides for the quick and ready assembling of the parts, as before noted, and for the replacing of a broken member, also insures an easy running articulation comparativelyfree from friction.

WVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In combination with a shaft having a chamber in one end, a split socket 12 provided with a shank and having slots in its sides, a second shaft having a ball at one end adapted to fit said socket, external pins on said ball to register with said slots, and means to secure said shank in said chamber, substantially as shown and described.

2. In combination with a shaft having a chamber in one end, a split socket 12 provided with a shank and having slots in its sides, a second shaft having a ball separated therefrom by a neck 11*, said ball being adapted to fit said socket, external pins on the ball to register with said slots, and means to secure said shank in said chamber, sub.- stantially as shown anddescribed.

3. In combination, in a universal joint, a

ALBERT A. PIX LEY.

Witnesses:

F. A. CUTTER, S. S. TAFT. 

